Metal packing case for transport of fruit



Aug. 3, 1965 R. WITRANT 3,198,372

METAL PACKING CASE FOR TRANSPORT OF FRUIT Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet l 1965 R. WITRANT 3,198,372

METAL PACKING CASE FOR TRANSPORT OF FRUIT Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,11%,372 METAL PACKKNG CASE FQRTRANSPORT 0 FRUIT Roger Ludovic Witrant, 4 Ave. do ltOpera, Paris,France Filed Nov. 9, 19611, Ser. No. 151,252 Claims priority,application France, Nov. 15, 1965), 843,987, Patent 1,273,689 14Ciairns. (Cl. 220-6) The present invention relates to metal packingcases.

The present invention has for an object to provide a metal case of largesize (about 1.20 m. X 1.05 m. x 0.70 m.), particularly suitable for thetransport of fruit and having the essential advantage of being foldableon itself without it being necessary for any of its faces to be detachedfrom its adjacent faces for such purpose. The return of the empty casefolded into a very small built is thus made possible without involvingany difficulties of dismantling and risk of loss of parts.

The packing case according to the invention is essentially characterizedin that two of the opposite lateral faces of the parallelepipedrectangle which it forms are capable of pivoting about their upper orlower sides so as to fold back either against the bottom or against thelid of the case, and substantially parallel to the latter; thisfolding-back of two of the opposite faces forming the case permittingthe articulated parallelogram constituted in profile by the other fourfaces, to be flattened until the lid and the bottom are only separatedby the thickness of the lateral faces previously folded back, the fourfaces thus capable of being flattened being pivotally attached to eachother for that purpose so that they pivot about their common edges.

In accordance with one form of embodiment of the invention, the saidopposite faces can be folded back under the lid and are constituted bypanels having no connection with the panels which form the adjacentfaces, at the upper sides of which are articulated flanges welded ontubes which are capable of pivotal movement about their axes and whichjoin together in pairs the upper angles of the panels forming the facesadjacent to the said foldable panels. The pivotal movement of theflanges andthe tubes to which they are rigidly fixed, about the axes ofthe latter, accompanied by the pivoting of the panels with respect tothe flanges on which they are articulated, enables the lower sides ofthese panels to be placed in position and fixed on the correspondingsides of the bottom of the case, the disengagement of the said lowersides being effected only by a pivotal movement of the panels and theflanges in the opposite direction, it being possible to prevent thispivotal movement by any appropriate locking device which tends to holdthe foldable panels and the flanges on which they are pivoted in thesame vertical plane.

In accordance with a form of construction of the invention, this lockingdevice is obtained by means of arms with which the flanges are provided,and which prevent pivotal movement by coming into abutment against thelid of the case when the said lid is closed.

Other particular features of the container according to the inventionwill become apparent during the course of the folding-back operationillustrated in FIG. 1 has been carried out.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of construction of the caseaccording to the invention.

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FIG. 4 is a perspective view in accordance with FIG. 3, showing one ofthe lateral folding panels ready to be folded-back, the lid not beingshown.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show details of construction of the case of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further form of construction of thelower parts of the folding lateral panels.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative form of the locking device for the foldinglateral panels.

FIG. 9 is a partial view in cross-section, showing a form ofconstruction of the mounting of the lid on the upper tubes of thenon-folding panels, and also shows how the lower face of the bottom of acase can come into position on the upper face of the lid of anothercase.

With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the two opposite lateralpanels A and A of the case are capable of pivoting towards the interiorof the case, about the edges :1 and a At the end of the folding backmovement, when the panels A and A are located at A' and A practically incontact with the lid E, the other four panels forming the case, namelythe panels B, C, D, E (FIG. 2), form a parallelogram articulated aboutthe edges, b, c, d, e, which can be flattened in the direction of thearrows shown in FIG. 2, until the lid comes into the position E,substantially in contact with the bottom C.

The folding-back of the panels A and A such as illustrated in FIG. 1,takes place towards the interior of the case, and in their finalposition, the said panels then come into position under the lid. It ishowever possible to fold the panels towards the exterior of the case,the panels then carrying out a pivotal movement of 270 about the edges aand a This method of folding-back will again be found in one of theforms of construction of the case which will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a form of embodiment of the case in accordance with theinvention.

Ona bottom 1 constituted, for example, by a frame of metal sectionssupporting a thin metal sheet, are erected two panels 2 which form twoopposite faces of the case.

These panels are formed by a frame 3 having two intermediate uprights 4and 5 and comprising vertical members 6 of sheet metal curved to aU-profile, the extremities of which are welded on the upper and lowertubes of the frames 3 and are suitably flattened for that purpose (FIG.6). The lower tubes of the frames 3 are pivoted on lugs 7 fixed to thebottom. 1, while the extremities of the upper tubes of the said framesare mounted on pivots provided on supports constituted of iron. squares,as shown in FIG. 5.

On these same squares, further pivots, arranged at right angles withrespect to the first, receive the extremities of two tubes 9 which thusjoin together in pairs the upper corners of the frame 3.

When considered in profile, it can be seen that the articulatedparallelogram formed by the bottom 1, the panels 2 and the tubes 9 whichjoin together the upper corners of these latter, is deformable in thesame manner as are the panels B, C, D, E, shown in FIG. 2.

On the tubes 9 are welded flanges 19 which are also articulated on theupper tubes of the frames 11, these being also provided with U-sectionbars of sheet metal, the frames and the bars forming the panels 12.

The lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11 are provided with smallforks 13 which, in the normal position, are mounted astride angle-ironsor the like, arranged on the edge of the bottom 1.

The lid 14 is constituted by a frame of metal sections provided, likethe other panels, with U-sect ion bars of sheet metal. This lid pivots,by any appropriate means, about the upper tube of one of the frames 3,and when it is closed, forms an abutment for arms with which the upperparts of the flanges til are provided.

When the case is in the normal position, that is to say not folded, thisbeing this position shown in FIG. 3, the lateral panels 2 are in avertical position and the articulated parallelogram which they form withthe bottom and the lid is prevented from being deformed, in the same wayas described above for the panels B, C, D, E of FIG. 2, by virtue of thepresence of the lateral panels 12 which prevent any pivotal movement ofthe panels 2 about the axes of the lower tubes of their frames 3. Thus,the case has perfectly satisfactory characteristics of rigidity andstrength.

When the lid is raised, the arms 15 are no longer in abutment againstthe lid, and in consequence, the flanges It and the tubes 9 to whichthey are welded can turn about the pivots of the squares 8.

It can be seen that by applying to the upper tubes of the frames 11 anoblique tractive pull from the bottom upwards, it is possible to causethe tubes 9 and the flanges in which are rigidly fixed to them to pivotabout their axes. The forks 13 are thus freed from the angle-irons onwhich they are astride (FIG. 4). The panels 12 can from that moment hecompletely folded-back underneath and against the lid 14.

The lateral panels 2, the lid 14 and the base It can then be folded-backby deformation of the parallelogram which they form, as has already beendescribed above and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.

In accordance with a further form of embodiment of the invention, whichis illustrated in FIG. 7, the lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11are not provided, as in the form of the embodiment illustrated by FIGS.4 and 5, with vertically directed forks, but with members 13a arrangedin the line of extension of the lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11,the extremities of these members being shaped as a quarter of a circle.In addition, the lugs '7, rigidly fixed to the bottom 1, and on whichare pivoted the lower tubes of the frames 3, have in this form ofconstruction a width wlL'ch substantially exceeds the diameter of thesaid lower tubes.

When it is desired to close the case, the horizontal lower tubes of theframes 11 are engaged behind the lugs 7 and the quadranhshapedextremities of the members 13a come to fit against the cylindrical formof the lower portions of the vertical tubes of the adjacent frames 3.Thus, the lower parts of the frames 11 are prevented from moving awaylaterally, on the one hand towards the interior of the case by theabutment of the members 1311 against the vertical tubes of the frames 3,and on the other hand towards the exterior of the case by the presenceof the lugs 7. Only a pivotal movement of the panels 12, causing anupward movement of the lower tubes of the frame II, is capable offreeing these latter.

It will be observed that according to this form of embodiment, thefolding-back of the panels 12 cannot be effected by pivoting towards theinterior of the case. In

fact, the members 13a coming into abutment against the vertical tubes ofthe frame 3 prevent the panels 12 from being able to pivot towards theinterior. The foldingback is then carried out in the following manner:the

lid 14 is raised; the panels 12 and the flanges It) undergo a pivotalmovement of 270 towards the exterior about the tubes 9, until theyarrive at a position substantially parallel to the bottom of the case,the members 13a then coming into abutment against the upper horizontaltubes 3 of the panels 2;; the lid 14 is then re-closed and holds thepanels in position.

In this form of embodiment of the invention, it can be seen that thelocking of the panels 12 in the position of use of the case cannot beeffected, by reason of the method of folding-back towards the exteriorwhich has just been described, by the abutment of the arms 15 againstthe closed lid. Consequently, in accordance with this form ofconstruction of the packing case, the locking of the panels 12 in theposition of use is obtained by the simple action of locking meansincluding bars 259 which slide in rings 2i welded to the tubes 9, and,which in the locking position, pass into the clasps 22 welded to theupper horizontal tubes of the frames 11, or to the vertical tubes withwhich the panels 12 are provided in their centres, for that purpose.

In accordance with the invention, the packing case is designed so thatit can be handled by means of lifting trucks or push-plate conveyors.

To this end, the frame of the metal section which forms the bottom,rests on four feet 36 of punched fiat steel strip, which serve on theone hand as feet for the case and enable air to circulate under it, andon the other hand as guides intended to receive the forks of the liftingtruck.

In order to permit easy stacking of the cases according to theinvention, their lids are provided, directly above the feet 16 and oneach of the sides, with four supporting members constituted by flatstrips 17 each edged by two angle-irons 18 joining them together inpairs and giving the said supporting members a trapezoidal profile whichpermits their lateral positions to be observed by the operator and thusfacilitates the correct placing of the cases, one on top of the other(FIG. 3).

In accordance with a further form of construction which is illustratedin FIG. 9, the iron strips 17 forming the supporting members take theform of dished plates, the bottoms of which rest directly on the uppertubes of the frames 3 of the panels 2, and the edges 19 of which arelocated at the level of the upper portion of the tubes 9 and the metalsheets forming the lid 14. Thus the feet 16 of a case which is placed ontop of another case are housed in the said dished plates, whicheliminates all risk of slipping, even in the case of sea transport.

In accordance with a particular form of construction, the steel sheetforming the bottom 1 is provided with perforations suitably spaced apartso as to provide the best possible ventilation for the packed fruit.These perforations are preferably provided in greater numbers in thecentral portion of the bottom 1 than on its periphery so as to ensurebetter ventilation of the bottom layers.

Finally, this bottom can with advantage be provided on its surface witha series of juxtaposed spherical caps produced by punching, thedimensions of which are appropriate to those of the fruit for which thepacking case is intended. Thus the fruit of the bottom layer, fittinginto the shapes of these caps, will be protected from deformation andcrushing caused by the weight of the upper layers. Independently of theadvantages indicated above, which are due to the fact that the packingcase is easily folded, it should be observed on the one hand that thecase according to the invention ensures perfect ventilation of the fruitcarried, and on the other hand that the various panels of which it iscomposed, and which are assembled together without the use of any keyingor bolting system, can be very easily dismantled and separated from eachother when it becomes necessary to replace any one of them.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible container adapted for storing material comprising abottom, a pair of opposite side panels having upper and lower edges,means pivotally supporting the side panels at the lower edges thereof tothe bottom, an upper frame, means pivotally supporting the side panelsat the upper edges thereof to the upper frame and permitting collapsingof the side panels by concurrent pivotal movement of each of the sidepanels at their respective edges, a further pair of opposite side panelsfor said container, means supporting the further side panels from theupper frame for free pivotal movement about axes extending perpendicularto the first said axes, and means for detachably securing said furtherside panels at the lower edges thereof to said bottom and therebyprovide stability for said container, the latter means being releasedwith said further side panels pivotally moved a limited amount withrespect to said upper frame whereby said further side panels may befurther pivoted in either direction and the first said side panels maybe collapsed, the container further comprising a lid pivotally connectedto one of the first said side panels for closing the container, andmeans associated with said further side panels for contacting said lidwiththe latter closing the container to prevent pivotal movement of saidfurther side panels whereby said lid must be first raised before saidfurther side panels can be pivotally moved.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means supporting saidfurther side panels from the upper frame comprises flanges having oneend pivotally connected to said further side panels at the upper edgesthereof and an opposite end pivotally connected to the upper frame.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for detachablysecuring said further side panels to said bottom comprises a forkadapted for being mounted astride an angle iron on said bottom.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first said side panelsinclude a peripheral frame, said means for securing the further sidepanels to said bottom comprising lugs on said bottom extending upwardlybeyond the lower edge of the further side panels thereby preventingpivotal movement of the latter in one direction and members secured tosaid further side panels at the lower edges thereof for contacting theframe of the first said side panels to prevent pivotal movement of thefurther side panels in the other direction, the lower edge of thefurther side panels being free of the lugs with said further side panelsslightly raised by being pivotally moved with respect to said flangeswhich, in turn, are pivotally moved.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper frame comprises apair of parallel tubes each having opposite ends, a support at each ofthe ends of the tubes and a pair of pivots on each said support facingin perpendicular direction and respectively pivotally supporting thefirst said side panels at the upper edge thereof and the parallel tubesfor rotation about their own axes.

6. A collapsible case comprising a rectangular bottom having boundingedges, a pair of opposite, side panels having upper and lower edges,each side panel respectively extending along opposite edges of thebottom, a pair of tubes extending above the other of the edges of thebottom, a support located above each corner of the rectangular bottomand including a pair of pivots respectively pivotally supporting thetubes and the first said side panels at the upper edges thereof, lugssecured to the bottom and supporting the first said side panels at thelower edges thereof for pivotal movement where'- by the side panels,tubes and bottom constitute a collapsible assembly in which the sidepanels may respectively fold in the same direction to a position wherethe side panels are substantially coplanar with the bottom, a pair offurther side panels each of which has upper and lower edges, said panelsextending opposite one another along the other of the edges of saidbottom, a pair of flanges rigidly secured to each tube for pivotalmovement therewith, said flanges being pivotally connected to the upperedges of the further side panels and constituting a hinge therefor,means at the lower edges of the further side panels for preventingrelative movement of the further side panels with respect to saidbottom, the latter means being effective to maintain the further sidepanels erect to confer stability to the aforementioned collapsibleassembly, said latter means being releasable, to permit free pivotalmovement of the further side panels as well as collapsing of saidassembly, by pivotal movement of the flanges and the tubes securedthereto, and means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of thetubes with respect to said supports.

'7. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, comprising a lid pivotallyconnected to one of the first said side panels at the upper edge thereoffor opening and closing the case.

8. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 7, wherein said meansreleasably preventing pivotal movement of the tubes comprises armsprojecting from said flanges and contacting the lid with the latterclosed.

9. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein said meansreleasably preventing pivotal movement of the tubes comprises a ringfixed on each tube, a bar slidable in said tube and a clasp on each ofthe further side panels for accommodating a corresponding bar therein.

10. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means forpreventing relative movement of the further side panels with respect tothe bottom comprises a fork adapted for being mounted astride an angleiron on said bottom.

11. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first saidside panels include a peripheral frame, wherein the means for preventingrelative movement of the further side panels with respect to the bottomcomprises lugs on said bottom extending upwardly beyond the lower edgeof the further side panels thereby preventing pivotal movement of thelatter in one direction and members secured to said further side panelsat the lower edges thereof for contacting the frame of the first saidside panels to prevent pivotal movement of the further side panels inthe other direction, the lower edge of the further side panels beingfree of the lugs with said further side panels slightly raised by beingpivotally moved with respect to said flanges which, in turn, arepivotally moved along with said tubes about said supports.

12. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 7 comprising feet on thebottom constituted of punched flat strips defining guides adapted foraccommodating the forks of lifting trucks, supporting members in theshape of dished plates on the lid vertically above said feet and adaptedfor receiving the feet of another case to thereby permit stacking of thecases one on top of another.

13. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom isprovided with perforations.

M. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bottom isprovided with concave spherical caps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON,Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

Examiners.

1. A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR STORING MATERIAL COMPRISING ABOTTOM, A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE PANELS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER EDGES,MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE SIDE PANELS AT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF TOTHE BOTTOM, AN UPPER FRAME, MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE SIDE PANELSAT THE UPPER EDGES THEREOF TO THE UPPER FRAME AND PERMITTING COLLAPSINGOF THE SIDE PANELS BY CONCURRENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF EACH OF THE SIDEPANELS AT THEIR RESPECTIVE EDGES, A FURTHER PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE PANELSFOR SAID CONTAINER, MEANS SUPPORTING THE FURTHER SIDE PANELS FROM THEUPPER FRAME FOR FREE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES EXTENDING PERPENDICULARTO THE FIRST SAID AXES, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID FURTHERSIDE PANELS AT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF TO SAID BOTTOM AND THEREBYPROVIDE STABILITY FOR SAID CONTAINER, THE LATTER MEANS BE ING RELEASEDWITH SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS PIVOTALLY MOVED A LIMITED AMOUNT WITHRESPECT TO SAID UPPER FRAME WHEREBY SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS MAY BEFURTHER PIVOTED IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE FIRST SAID SIDE PANELS MAYBE COLLAPSED, THE CONTAINER FURTHER COMPRISING A LID PIVOTALLY CONNECTEDTO ONE OF THE FIRST SAID SIDE PANELS FOR CLOSING THE CONTAINER, ANDMEANS ASSOCITATED WITH SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS FOR CONTACTING SAID LIDWITH THE LATTER CLOSING THE CONTAINER TO PREVENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OFSAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS WHEREBY SAID LID MUST BE FIRST RAISED BEFORESAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS CAN BE PIVOTALLY MOVED.